HTC Thunderbolt Ready For Release, Verizon Holding Off
Well now, here’s a bit of news concerning the release of the HTC Thunderbolt, apparently the Android 2.2 Froyo packing smartphone is ready for release and in fact is already in Verizon stores, but still isn’t up for sale yet.
Apparently this is something that is causing a bit of friction between the Big Red and HTC. According to an article over on Android Community, the guys over at Sentnation have had a text conversation with a Verizon insider who speaks of threats from HTC to Verizon if the release of the HTC Thunderbolt didn’t happen soon.
Here’s what apparently transpired during the text conversation…
“Me (7:04 PM): What’s up? Not happening today?
Source (9:51 PM): Things are being finalized. We’re shipping to stores tomorrow which is ahead of schedule. [HTC] wanted it announced days ago. I think either tomorrow or Monday/tues we’ll go public with the news. Phone’s been ready forever
Me (10:00 PM): Sounds like hell. March 10 still?
Source (10:10 PM): 10th is right. Just got off a conference call with [Some partner] things are getting chippy around here. Someone’s more impatient than you – We heard HTC threatened to pull all its ads if we don’t announce a date before Saturday
Me (10:14 PM): Holy ****. Think it’ll be announced soon then?
Source (10:27 PM): I hope so I don’t need that ****”
Thus it would appear if said conversation is true, that tension is running high between HTC and Verizon over the HTC Thunderbolt release, so perhaps Verizon will actually push out the HTC Thunderbolt on the 10th, either way the Big Red probably has some explaining to do to HTC, but all the customer wants is to see the HTC Thunderbolt released.
Comments
25 thoughts on “HTC Thunderbolt Ready For Release, Verizon Holding Off”
VZ enough is enough, got tired of waiting… Bought a Motorola Atrix (AT&T) instead, the Atrix blows the Thunderbolt away. VZ in your business, Business 101 – take care of your customers.
Enjoy att…that is when you can actually connect to the network. 🙂
Everyone should just BOYCOTT VERIZON FOR LIES, PRICE INCREASES, and IT'S ALL ABOUT PROFIT TREATMENT OF CONSUMERS. 1. Verizon PROMISED and stated by their CEO that smart phones would not go over $199.00 on a 2 year upgrade. New phones now up to $299.00. A VERIZON LIE!!! 2. Verizon told new customers when they signed up that they would get the new every 2 plan as long as they were customers. NOW VERIZON TAKES THAT AWAY, AND IN THEIR OWN WORDS, TO INCREASE PROFITS. Another Verizon Lie.
3. Verizon only offers customers one unlimited data plan, even to those that use very little data. THIS MEANS VERIZON CUSTOMERS THAT USE LITTLE DATA *** PAY *** FOR HEAVY USERS. Verizon did this in an effort to draw AT&T customers to Verizon. BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO SCREW EXISTING VERIZON CUSTOMERS TO DO THIS.
4. Verizon has LIED TO ITS CUSTOMERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. Promises made and broken. CUSTOMERS SERVICE LEVELS HAVE STEADILY DROPPED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS FOR THE SAKE OF INCREASING PROFITS. I have been a customer over 10 Years and watched more and more of their Customer Service taken away to increase PROFITS.
Bottom line, I have both Verizon and AT&T service and VERIZON HAS GONE FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDER YOU WANT TO THE CELL PHONE PROVIDER YOU SHOULD RUN FROM.
At this point, I starting to think there are some REAL problems with this phone – NO WAY I've going to be the first one buying it, hell, I might just as well wait for something else. Verizon is always so fricking slow to get stuff done, and it has NOTHING to do with quality control because theri phones have JUST AS MANY problems as everyone else's. I'm tired of Verizon being the last to market with new tech and their higher pricing, luckily the Sprint and AT&T service is great in my area.
I have seen so many of these supposed conversations, texts etc… none panned out, just done to generate web traffic
I for one am tired of this crap I have moved on to another phone and another company and the price tag for the TB at $300 you can keep it,,, it will be out dated and selling for $49 in one year
Verizon – is playing games – phone is ready but they have not worked out the implementation of the new data plans. How they go to market (Data Plans) t with new customers, how they go to market with existing customers, upgrades, customers porting numbers.
It is a Joke – Was seriously looking at it – moving over from ATT – but now – for get it I am staying with what I have with ATT which is a joke – just goes to show how much Verizon has messed this up
This is crap. They are doing just cause of the stupid Iphone. It needs to happen now!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sick of waiting. I plan on switching over the V from US Cellular for this phone, but my really getting pissed about this.
This is the most ridiculous i have ever seen Verizon Wireless act over a phone. I am getting turned off to the TB and Verizon all together because of this charade. I am a14 year customer and have had to endure all the years before they realized that smartphones would be the future. The had to put up with all the piece of crap initial offerings by Verizon, before coming across the Samsung Omnia. When the original Droid hit the market i was first in line and had to argue about getting an early upgrade. Then we had the BS of coming out with the Droid X. NOW THIS SH-T WITH THE FREAKING THUNDERBOLT, HTC APPARENTLY IS READY TO GO AND IS ALSO ANNOYED WITH VZW BECAUSE OF THE GAMES THEY ARE PLAYING. GIVE UP THE FREAKING PHONE VERIZON, IN THE END YOU ARE NOT THE ONE AND ONLY IN THE MARKET AND YOUR PRICES ARE STILL HIGHER THAN THE COMPETITION. EVER HEARD OF A LITTLE COMPANY CALLED SPRINT
Want some cheese with that whine? VZW isnt going to read your post on some stupid website ever, so why dont you just relax? This letter to verizon style comment is just a waste of space. Not to mention, typing in all caps just makes you look like your IQ is 30 points lower.
VW is pushing their subscribers too far, all the other companies are gaining on them – at some point VW with be stuck with a warehouse full of outdated phones that nobody wants and the customer base will have migrated to other providers – and that can't happen too soon as far as I'm concerned. Verizon, you are too big, too slow, and too stupid to stay on top much longer.
I will be laughing when you guys are trying to give away your phones and slashing service pricing, in a desperate attempt to win back customers. Squeeze every nickel you can out of customers now while you still can. The exec's will bail with their golden parachutes, the working folks in the B&M stores and tech centers will be the one's out of jobs. You guys SUCK.
I love reading these comments. You are all pissed at Verizon for not releasing a phone which they have yet to announce a release for. You have these stupid “fake” conversions which get you all excited and when they all come to be bull you get pissed at Verizon? Get pissed at the sites with the bogus info and not the company which never once said a date. Verizon said the 1st quarter and just an FYI we are still in 1st quarter. If it hits second quarter and no thunderbolt then you have a reason to be mad at Verizon. I have more inside info then 90%. Of these companies and can tell you first hand they are very funny with their “inside” info…its a joke ….
Verizon still has zero 4g phones. I am waiting to get the TB but this is ridiculous. I read somewhere they lost 2% of their customers due to bad business practices on holding off with this phone.
Yea- I went over to AT and T to look- there must be a problem with this phone-I will wait to see if they have a lot of issues.
I heard that Verizon made a 30 day agreement with Apple not to launch any new devices like the Thunderbolt during that time in fear of losing iPhone sales.If this is true, it makes sense being that the iPhone was released Feb.10.
What a dumbass agreement. Give the people what they want, Apple and Verizion will still make their billions.
I don't want an iPhone, so it doesn't matter to me when they released it. A new iPad is not going to make a difference on my phone choice either. Verizon is missing out on millions of dollars in Thunderbolt sales right now and none of those sales would have had any adverse effect on their apple product sales.
EVERYONE IS OVER REACTING…. SERIOUSLY VERIZON HASN'T EVEN RELEASED A DATE OR A PRICE YOUR GOING OFF OF ALL THESE BLOGS GRANTED I FOLLOW THE BLOGS TO BUT LOOK HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY WRONG IF YOU DON'T WANT THE PHONE OR IF YOU'VE MOVED ON TO A DIFFERENT CARRIER COOL GREAT WHY ARE YOU STILL READING ABOUT THE THUNDERBOLT CHILL OUT… IT WILL BE HERE WHEN IT GETS HERE AND UNTIL THEN WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT….
Everyone is pissed at Verizon for not releasing a phone that they never stated a release date for. Just because you get a release date from some "inside info bs" site and it is wrong you should get pissed at the sites with the BS info and not Verizon. Verizon said it will be launched in the 1st quarter and yes we are still in the 1st quarter. When we get to the second quarter and you don't have the Thunderbolt then you can get mad a Verizon. What is craking me up is you all getting so upset you are saying you are going to leave verizon over this. LOL You all have no idea who is holding this back and why. Get mad at the BS info you are getting and not Verizon or HTC.
May verizon will hear you if you use all caps.
I spoke with VZW customer rep yesterday when i called for an issues with my blackberry. While on the phone i asked her if she knew of any info about the th TB. She told me that it was going to be released on the 17th of March. She said they just had a training class on the TB last week for tech support. So that sounds pretty promising. Also she stated the phone was amazing. Hope that is correct info.
My rep said it was going to be released on March 13, at 1:37AM EST. But only one phone, and only in one store. After that they will release one phone per store every 9 and a half days. The price is going to be $297.31 and will drop $1.77 every 17 hours until some time in May. At which time the price will raise 93¢ every 43 minutes until June. July they will stop selling the Thunderbolt for 12 days, then start selling it again every three days.
But then, you can't believe everything a customer rep says….. BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW JACK!!!!!
They lied to you….we have been doing training for weeks and no date has been given to Verizon employees….just an FYI the phone iS BAD A$$ on the 4g …
I was going to switch to VZW just b/c of the TB, but becuase of their relentless games (I know the iPhone contract rumor holds some merit), I just switched to ATT instead. Good thing VZW pulled this bs to try to improve iPhone sales…it worked so well to. They lost me, and I'm certain a lot of other potential customers.
Agreed, I left verizon ages ago because of their issue with lying and keeping customers in the dark. Like the VZ rep in the article said, "I don't need that ****" Thank you Verizon for validating my decision to leave your company time and time again.
-Happily Waiting for the HTC Pyramid